Stage 2 of 7 · typically Yr 1–2 · age ~19–21
Medical school: pre-clinical years
First part of the 5-year MBBS/MD: how the healthy body works and how disease begins, mostly in lecture halls, labs and small groups, with early patient contact.
Background required for this path This stage in the matrix
What is learned at this stage, and how deeply?
Applies 6
- Anatomy (incl. histology & embryology)Applies anatomical knowledge in practical exams (spot tests, OSPE) and links structure to function.
- BiochemistryApplies knowledge of pathways and enzymes in exams and case discussions.
- Curiosity & lifelong learningSelf-directed learning in PBL; links basic science to illness; may join a student research project.
- English & study skillsApplies academic reading, note-taking and revision methods to a heavy syllabus.
- PathologyApplies general and systemic pathology principles in exams and case analyses.
- PhysiologyApplies physiological principles in exams and practical class experiments.
Understands 33
- Behavioural science & medical psychologyUnderstands key psychological and social concepts in health and illness.
- BiologySchool biology is absorbed into anatomy, physiology and biochemistry; the student understands the basics well enough to build on them.
- ChemistryUses chemical ideas to understand biochemistry and drug action.
- Cognitive psychology & neuropsychologyLearns basic models of perception, memory and learning in behavioural science.
- Communication & languages (BM, English and more)Learns structured consultation skills and medical English; starts picking up patient phrases in BM and other languages.
- Communication skills & professionalismUnderstands communication models; practises with simulated patients.
- Community medicine & public healthUnderstands principles of prevention and how health services are organised.
- Cultural & religious sensitivityLearns about the social and cultural determinants of health in behavioural science and community medicine.
- Doctor wellbeing, burnout & resilienceUnderstands stress and coping as part of student wellbeing.
- Empathy & compassionLearns the language of empathy in communication-skills classes and early patient contact.
- Epidemiology & biostatisticsUnderstands study designs, measures of disease and basic statistical tests.
- Ethics in psychiatryLearns core ethical principles and professional codes.
- Ethics, integrity & professionalismLearns principles of medical ethics and the MMC's expectations; respects cadavers and patient confidentiality.
- Human development & developmental psychologyLearns the major developmental theories and milestones in behavioural science.
- ImmunologyUnderstands how the immune system works and fails.
- Learning theory & behavioural psychologyLearns classical and operant conditioning and social learning in behavioural science.
- Mathematics & basic statisticsUnderstands numbers in biostatistics, drug dose calculations and physiology formulas.
- Medical ethics & lawUnderstands ethical principles and basic medical law.
- Medical geneticsUnderstands inheritance patterns, chromosomal disorders and genetic testing.
- MicrobiologyUnderstands the main organisms, how they cause disease and how they are diagnosed.
- NeuroanatomyCan name and locate major brain structures, tracts and cranial nerves and explain the effects of common lesions.
- NeurochemistryNames the main neurotransmitters, their synthesis and receptors as part of biochemistry and pharmacology.
- NeurophysiologyExplains action potentials, synapses and neuroendocrine control and passes physiology exams on them.
- PharmacologyUnderstands principles of drug action and the main drug classes.
- Psychiatric epidemiologyLearns general epidemiological concepts and study designs.
- Psychiatric geneticsLearns medical genetics, inheritance patterns and chromosomal disorders.
- Psychopharmacology (basic)Learns general pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and the broad drug classes.
- Related background that helpsBehavioural science and research modules; elective research projects or student societies on mental health.
- Research methods & the dissertationLearns study designs and biostatistics; may do a student research project.
- Resilience & self-careAdjusts to a heavy workload and the shock of dissection and illness; uses university support services when needed.
- Sleep–wake disordersLearns sleep stages, EEG patterns and circadian physiology.
- Social psychologyLearns basic concepts (attitudes, stigma, illness behaviour) in behavioural science.
- Time, cost & career outlookStudents manage fees, loans and living costs; keep scholarship results requirements in mind.
Aware 60
- Alternative entry routesStudents in another degree who want to switch must plan science requirements, finances and applications.
- Anaesthesiology & critical careLearns pharmacology of anaesthetic and analgesic drugs.
- Anxiety disordersLearns the physiology of the stress response and learning theory behind fears and phobias.
- Assessment, formulation & rating scalesAware of questionnaires and screening principles (sensitivity, specificity).
- Bipolar disordersAware that mood can be abnormally high as well as low; knows lithium as a classic drug.
- Child & adolescent psychiatryLearns child development and family dynamics in behavioural science.
- Classification: ICD-11 & DSM-5-TRAware that diseases are coded and classified (ICD) for records and statistics.
- Clinical audit & quality improvement basicsAware of audit as part of research and community medicine teaching.
- Clinical pharmacotherapy & safe prescribingKnows the main drug classes exist and their basic mechanisms from pharmacology lectures.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)Meets basic learning theory and the cognitive model in behavioural science.
- Community psychiatryLearns about community health services in community medicine.
- Continuing professional development (CPD)Aware that learning continues throughout a medical career.
- Critical appraisal & evidence-based psychiatryLearns basic study designs and biostatistics terms.
- Cultural psychiatry (Malaysian context)Learns social and cultural factors in health in behavioural science.
- Delirium, dementia & neurocognitive disordersLearns brain anatomy of memory and the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.
- Depressive disordersLearns depression as a common condition in behavioural science and its basic neurobiology.
- DermatologyLearns skin structure and immunology basics.
- Descriptive psychopathology & phenomenologyMeets basic terms (hallucination, delusion) in behavioural science.
- Dissociative & bodily distress (somatic symptom) disordersAware of the mind-body link and illness behaviour from behavioural science.
- Emergency medicineLearns basic life support and first aid.
- Entry to medical school: academic requirementsRequirements are now met; what remains is passing each year, as universities set minimum progression standards.
- Family & couple therapyLearns about the family as a social system in behavioural science.
- Family medicine & primary careEarly community visits and exposure to health clinics.
- Feeding & eating disordersLearns nutrition, starvation physiology and electrolytes in physiology and biochemistry.
- Forensic medicineIntroduced through medical ethics and law teaching.
- General surgeryLinks anatomy to surgical conditions through clinical examples.
- Geriatric medicine & palliative careLearns ageing physiology and ethics of end-of-life care.
- History & philosophy of psychiatrySome awareness through medical ethics and behavioural science teaching.
- Housemanship core skills (on-call, procedures, documentation)Aware of professional standards and basic clinical skills taught early in medical school.
- Internal medicineMeets common diseases as the 'why' behind physiology and pathology lectures.
- Medico-legal reports & expert evidenceAware through medical ethics and law teaching.
- Mental health in primary care & district hospitalsAware of primary care through community medicine teaching.
- Mental health law (Mental Health Act 2001)Learns basic medical law and consent in medical ethics and law teaching.
- Motivational interviewingLearns basic behaviour-change theory and patient-centred communication.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, autism, intellectual disability)Learns child development milestones and basic genetics of developmental conditions.
- Neuroimaging & investigationsAware of the basic principles of imaging and laboratory tests.
- NeurologyLearns neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in basic form.
- Neuropsychiatry (epilepsy, brain injury, movement disorders)Learns neuroanatomy and neurophysiology that underpin brain-behaviour relationships.
- Obsessive-compulsive & related disordersAware of OCD as a distinct condition in behavioural science teaching.
- Obstetrics & gynaecologyLearns reproductive anatomy, physiology and embryology.
- OphthalmologyLearns eye anatomy and the visual pathway.
- OrthopaedicsLearns musculoskeletal anatomy.
- Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)Learns head and neck anatomy.
- PaediatricsStudies growth, embryology and developmental basics.
- Personality disordersLearns personality theories in behavioural science.
- Physical health in mental illnessLearns the physiology and pathology behind cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
- PhysicsAware of physics underlying physiology: membrane potentials, pressure and flow, optics of the eye.
- Psychiatric interview & mental state examinationLearns basic communication and history-taking skills.
- Psychiatry (undergraduate posting)Behavioural science teaching introduces the basics of mind and behaviour.
- Psychodynamic psychotherapyMeets basic ideas such as defence mechanisms in behavioural science.
- Psychoeducation & psychosocial interventionsLearns patient-centred communication principles.
- RadiologySees imaging in anatomy teaching.
- Religion, spirituality & mental healthLearns about religion and culture as social determinants of health.
- Research leadership & publicationAware of research through biostatistics and projects.
- Risk assessment & suicide preventionLearns basic epidemiology of suicide and communication about sensitive topics.
- Schizophrenia & other psychotic disordersKnows the word psychosis, basic dopamine ideas and that schizophrenia is a brain-based illness, not a character flaw.
- Sexual dysfunctions & sexual healthLearns reproductive physiology and human sexual development.
- Substance use disorders & addictionLearns pharmacology of drugs of abuse and reward pathways.
- Teaching & medical educationExperiences teaching methods such as problem-based learning as a learner; may do peer teaching.
- Trauma- and stress-related disordersLearns the stress response and normal grief in behavioural science.